Depot to celebrate landmark status with gala

It has been a long time coming, but now the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum is ready to celebrate its designation as a National Historic Landmark with a gala Thursday at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.

It has been a long time coming, but now the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum is ready to celebrate its designation as a National Historic Landmark with a gala Thursday at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.

It took 11 years of hard work to gain the designation.

The depot is Tuscarawas County’s first National Historic Landmark, and Ohio’s 70th.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Wendy Zucal, director of the museum. “When we went to Washington and thanked them for making us the first one in the county, they said, ‘Not every county gets one.’ ”

The event is open to the public. The doors open at 6 p.m., with a program at 7, followed by refreshments catered by Trax Diner.

In 1984, Dennison’s youngest mayor, Greg DiDonato, made the decision to save the last building associated with the community’s railroad history.

The building was dangerously deteriorated and headed for demolition. But instead of allowing it to be torn down, DiDonato shared his vision for the building and spearheaded a grassroots effort to save the depot.

Little did he know he was saving a National Historic Landmark.

Located on the national defense railway route and the midpoint of the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks from New York to St. Louis, Dennison claimed some of the most complete railroad shops and yards in the country at the turn of the 20th century — second only to the famed Altoona shops in Pennsylvania. As a division headquarters, Dennison’s yards employed more than 3,000 people and handled 22 passenger trains a day.

The depot is widely known as the location of the World War II Salvation Army Canteen that earned the nickname “Dreamsville USA” from the soldiers it served. Only the North Platte, Neb., canteen and the New York Stage Door Canteen served more than Dennison’s canteen – and they are both gone.

As the nation’s third largest World War II canteen – serving 1.3 million soldiers and 13 percent of all U.S. armed forces personnel – the depot is the best example in the country of a station reflecting its World War II canteen identity.

After opening in 1989, DiDonato’s vision was carried forward by Zucal, who has overseen seven additional restoration phases on the depot. Realizing the potential eligibility of it becoming a landmark, she began the application process in 2000.

After 11 years of research and applications, the depot was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 17, 2011, by the National Historic Landmarks Commission and the National Park Service.

“Just as the entire county contributed to working and supporting the canteen, this is a celebration for the entire county,” said Zucal. “The spotlight is on Tuscarawas County. We hope Tuscarawas County residents will grab this opportunity to celebrate with us and join us in sharing this story nationwide.”

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Cost for the event is $35 per person. For reservations, contact the box office at the Performing Arts Center at 330-308-6400 or visit www.dennisondepot.org.

People and businesses also are reminded that they can add themselves to the Landmark Patron list that will go into the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum’s National Historic Landmark Gala Commemorative program. The cost is $5.